The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-06-21
MARION, ARK.
THE REV. JOSEPH ROBINSON A
GOOD HAN
And n Faithful Pastor. NOtwith'
atandfnE the Statements or
the Memphis Waterman.
TosthegRditor Of the'Appeal,

ToHthepRditor Of the'Appeal;
MARION, ARK June 20--Please al.
low me spaos in your valuable paper
to correct and condemn all charges
SET up in the Marion Headlight and
Memphis Wdfchmdn against as and
about our pestor, the Rev. Joseph
Robinson, who Is worthy and capable
OF preaching, leading and teaching the
people over whom he presides and
especially our sops aud daughters and
the rising generations. .
We gay this from the standpoint OF
our experience; the work that he has
done is the witness, AZ well "a our
selves. Were We TO get rid Of him
his place would be bard to fill. The
church has never complained OF his
teaching, preaching, nor ruling nor
Misunderstanding. The laws Of the
church Is her sovereign judge; he
has right TO sustain what ehe says,
and we intend to stand by her pastor
and the doctrines he breaches and
teaches, let what happen may. 1t is
not ina church that makes these ig-
nominious historical falte omplaints.
We know false doctrine when we
meet II, but a few disorderly men,
many OF them, are unruly and do not
want to, and will not be submissive 10
the church. Why, they say the ma
jority cannot and ought not 10 rule !
They found these faults without any
cauee, and brought trouble and grief
upon TIE church and all good end
peaceful men and women.
They went slyly into the church,
obtained the keys and rang the bell,
about the 25tb OF May, 1887. The
sexton OF the church says they took
tho keys on or about the 23d or Path
OF May, 1887, without his knowledge
or consent and against his will. They
went In and formed an organization Of
about twenty-three disorderly mem
bers Of the church, publishing
themselves the church. II was
againat the will OF the body
aud against It's consent and In Its
absence. The church, hearing Of 1t,
came together and condemned their
action. They turned out the pastor,
deacons and the whole church, locked
up the doors after they lad taken the
church record and tore out the leaves
that had the members names on
them, and ten or fifteen other books.
TheY then aitsrward alipped the
church record back in the church,
without the leaves they tore out. They
carried the keys away, and notified
the pastor and the officers that they
were going TO serve an injunction on
the SOlh Of May, 1887.
We now say to the public, the
church condemns all this action
and deny having any part or lot in
the matter. As for offending our
wives and daughters, that WAS never
mentioned until recently it was pm :
lished in the Marion Headlight,
which brought surprise upon the
whsle church by publishing SO many
fslsehoods in the name Of the church
without her consent aud against her
will.
We condemn the actions they have
taken, from the beginning TO the end.
ing As for the pastor, he is all right,
we intend to stand by him, says the
church, through this central com
mittee duly appointed by the church
The Injunction prayed for and granted
by the Hon. Jude R ddick is disre
gRded.
Wepray that justice may have ii
course. We speak this In behalf o
the church. We are only defending
our selves All that we say here il
to the signerB OF the above said arti
oles published in the said papers abou
the pastor and the church.
All this fussy rumpus Is chief
gotten up by the colored officers o
Orittenden county, Ark. This is jus
q little Of IL.
Respec fully, submitted. Done b
oder Of the church, this Goth day {
June, 1887.
VIM. NEELI0NS, Chair 4, an.
8. l.. ROBINSON, Secretary.